Torpedo course calculator



July 14, 1931. A. D. TRENOR 1,814,462

TORFEDO COURSE CALCULATOR Filed Dec. 18. 1928- 3 Sheets-Sheet l gemuwm Q WM-M July 14, 1931. A. D. TRENOR TORPEDO COURSE CALCULATOR Filed Dec. 18, 1928 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 MK N W m, WWW. l n M? m% m m 3 n P T Q l R mm 1, m E v n. 6 Q\ NW NW a a F N l V. 0 3 6 Q w. I21... I Jr x i i R Sky bx WA NW 3M. N% w QMWIMWHIHPWHPI lil N l ifl l mm 2. hm. .Q. N? 3 i l wk xv .\\.M

July 14, 1931. TRENOR 1,814,462

TORPEDOQCOURSE CALCULATOR Filed Dec. 18, 1928 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 fi s 9 a;

zzbzlizrne Patented July 14, 1931 UNITED STATES PATENT O'FFI-CE ALBERT D. TRENOR, OF GLOUCESTER,MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR TO JOHN HAYS HAMMOND, JR., F GLOUCESTER, MASSACHUSETTS TORPEDO COURSE CALCULATOR Application filed December 18, 1928. Serial No. 326,802.

The invention relates in general to geometrical instruments, and more particularly, to a geometrical instrument for mechanically determining the angle to redirect a torpedo.

In application, filed February 8, 1928, under Serial No. 252,716, and entitled Paravane torpedo, a torpedo is disclosed having means for redirecting itself so as to follow and hit a ship after missing it. In the prior application the torpedo is provided with small bodies called paravanes which, at a predetermined time, after the torpedo is fired, leave the body of the torpedo and are 5 thereafter towed by the torpedo. The paravanes spread out to a comparatively great extent increasing the effective width of the torpedo greatly, so that, the torpedo proper may miss the ship it is fired at but a paravane will hit the ship;

In the aforesaid application the contact of the paravanes with the ship causes the torpedo to turn about a certain radius towards the ship and thereafter describe a straight course until it hits the ship. The device according to the present invention is used for mechanically determining this angle from certain known quantities.

According to the invention the instrument a0 is provided with a course member corresponding to the course of the torpedo and a second course member corresponding to the course of the ship. These course members are-provided with a slider or traveler corresponding'respectively to the torpedo and to the ship. Devices are provided for moving the sliders at speeds having the same ratio as the actual speeds of the ship and torpedo. Furthermore, devices are provided for shifting the positions of the course members so that these sliders may be caused to meet, in which position a reading may be taken which will give directly the desired angle.

The invention also consists in certain new and original features of construction and combinations of parts hereinafter set forth and claimed.

Alt nough the novel features which are believed to be characteristic of this invention 50 will be particularly pointed out in the claims appended hereto, the invention itself, as to its objects and advantages, the mode of its operation and the manner of its or anization may be better understood by re erring to the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings forming a part thereof, in which Fig. 1 is a top plan view of the mechanism.

Fig. 2 is a cross sectional elevation taken 011 the line 22 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is .a top plan view taken on the line 3 3 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 1 is a front elevation of the machine.

Fig. 5 is an enlarged cross sectional detail taken on the line 55 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 6 is a cross sectional elevation taken on the line 6-6 of Fig. 5.

Fig. 7 is an enlarged cross sectional detail taken on the line 77 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 8 is an enlarged side elevation of Fig. 7, and Fig. 9 is a diagrammatic view showing the course of the enemy and the torpedo.

Like reference characters denote like parts in the several figures of the drawings.

In the following description and in the claims parts, characteristic features, and functions, will be identified by the specific names for convenience of expression, but they are intended to be as generic in their application to similar parts or equivalent construction, as the'art will permit.

Referring now to the drawings, and more particularly, to Fig. 9, the enemy ship is denoted by A in one position and by B in a position occupied-at a later time T. The torpedo is denoted by C and its paravanes by D. Fig. 9 illustrates the torpedo as just having missed a ship, but one of theparavanes towed by the torpedo hitting the ships stern.

As described in the above mentioned application, contact of a paravane D with the ship causes the torpedo to turn through a certain angle, identified by the Greek letter 0 describing a curved path 614, then describing a straight path 613. The speed of the torpedo is greater than the speed of theship and in a given time T during which the ship has traveled a distance indicated by 612, the torpedo The instrument consists of a bedplate upon which is rotatably mounted a torpedo course member 21 corresponding to the actual course of the torpedo in the water. This member is rigidly secured to a shaft 22, to the lower end of which is pinned a worm'wheel 23, which meshes with a worm 24 secured to a shaft 25, which has bearings in the frame 26. The outer end of this shaft is provided with a handle 27 for rotating same. Located adjacent to the torpedo course member 21 is a pointer 28. Secured to the member 21 is a pointer 30, which registers with a dial 31, 1o-

cated on top of the bed plate 20. The torpedo course member 21 is provided with a peripheral groove 32 in which moves a-slider or traveler 33 corresponding to the torpedo. This slider is secured to the end of a flexible steel tape 34, which is wound upon a drum 35.

The steel tape 34 is provided with a plurality of perforations 45, located near its lower edge. Engaging with these perforations is a toothed wheel 46, secured to a shaft 47. On the opposite side of the tape is a plain surfaced idler 48, which holds the tape in engagement with the toothed wheel 46. The wheel 48 is secured to a shaft 50, which is mounted for rotation on the base plate 20. Pinned to the lower end of this shaft, is a collar 51, which holds it in the proper position.

Secured to the shaft 47 is a bevelled gear 52 which meshes with a second bevelledv gear 53 secured to a shaft 54. The outer end of this shaft is provided with a handle 55. Secured to the shaft 47 is a truncated cone 56 which engages a roller 57, mounted for rotation on the end of a square shaped member 58. This member is slidably mounted on a rod 60 which is pivoted at 61 to the base plate 20. The member 58 slides through a rectangular opening 62 in the frame 26. The member 58 is provided with teeth 64, which mesh with a gear 65, which is secured to a shaft 66, and which is mounted for rotation in the brackets 67. Secured to the end of the shaft is a handle 68 to which is fastened a pointer 7 0 which indicates the position of the roller 57 on a dial 71.

Pivotally mounted on the base plate 20 is an arm 75, to which is secured a pointer 76, which indicates on a dial 77 the position of the arm 75. Slidably mounted in the arm 75 is a square bar 78, which is provided with rack teeth 79. Slidably mounted on the bar 78 is a slider 80, in which is drilled a hole 81. Rotatably mounted in the slider 80 and engaging rack 79 is a gear 82, which is rigidly secured to a shaft 83, to which is pinned a knurled knob 84. Graduations 86 are engraved on the bar 78, which indicate the position of the slider 80 with respect to the arm 7 5. A gradnation 87 is engraved on the bar 78 for locating it in a zero position with respect to the arm 7 5. Engaging the rack 79 and rotatably mounted in the arm 75 is a gear 90, which is secured to a shaft 91, to the lower end of which is pinned a universal joint 92, the other side of which is secured to a shaft 93. Fastened tothis shaft is a truncated cone 94 which normally engages the roller 57. The lower end of the shaft 93 is mounted in a bearing 95, which is slidably mounted in the frame 26. A spring 96 is provided between the frame and the bearing 95 which holds it in engagement with a cam 97 secured to a shaft 98. The outer end of this shaft is provided with a handle 99. Pinned to the lower end of the arm 75 is a worm wheel 101, which meshes with a worm 102 secured to a shaft 103. This shaft is provided at its end with a handle 104. v

Operation In the operation of this device the slider 33 is initially set exactly opposite pointer 28 by handle 55. The slider 80 is then set by the knurled knob and markings on the bar 78, to

ing through the worm 102 and wheel 101 until Y the bar 78 points in the direction the enemy is travelling, as indicated by the pointer 76 and the dial 77. The handle 99 secured to cam 97 is then so turned as to force the bearing 93 to the left, thereby disengaging cone 94 from contact with the roller 57 Member 58 is thereby allowed to swing in a clockwise directionthrough a small angle, which causes the roller 57 to move out of engagement with cone 56, but not enough to disengage the rack 64 from gear 65. The enemy course bar 78 is then moved longitudinally with respect to the arm 75, by hand until it is in the zero position as indicated on said bar.

The ratio of the speed of the torpedo to the speed of the enemy craft is then determined and this is set on a dial 71 by the operation of handle 68. This causes the gear to be rotated through a given angle which in turn moves the rack 64 so that the roller 57 is locked in proper relation to the cones 94 and 56. The handle 99 is then turned to its original position, allowing the cone 94 to be moved to the right under the action of spring 96, thereby causing the roller 57 to engage both cones 94 and 56.

The slider 33 is now made to move along the groove 32 by the operation of handle 55. This simultaneously causes the bar 78 to move longitudinally to the left by the transmission of the motion of shaft 47 through cone 56, roller 57 and cone 94, to shaft 91 which causes the gearing 90 to be rotated.

The rates of motion in the slider 33 and bar 78 will be proportional torpedo and the enemy craft. Simultaneously with the operation of handle 55, handle 27 is rotated which, by worms 24 and 23, cause the torpedo course member 21 to be slowly rotated. These two handles are so manipulated that hole 81 will be moved directly over the center of the slider 33. The angle that the course member assumes when the hole 81 is over the slider 33 will be the desired angle 6. Thiscan be read directly off the calibrated dial 31.

The distance on the device from the center of shaft 91 to the center of the slider 33 on ascale of the instrument, when said slider is positioned opposite the pointer 28 corresponds substantially to the distance of the stern of the ship from the torpedo at the time the paravane hits the ship. The distance from the slider 33,when so positioned to shaft 22 corresponds, on a scale of the instrument, to the radius of the path generated by the torpedo after its paravane strikes the-enemy craft. This radius is constant for all torpedos of the same type.

As stated above, during the time that the ship has travelled the distance 612, the torpedo has travelled distance 613 plus 614. It has already been shown that the bar 7 8 and the slider 33 will be moved at speeds proportional to the ship and torpedo respectively. Therefore, when the hole 81 and slider 33 have been made to meet, the distance from the shaft 91 to the hole 81 will be equal, on the scale of the instrument, to the distance through which the enemy craft has travelled (dimension 612) and the distance from the pointer 28 to the slider 33 measured along the groove 32 will be equal on the scale of the instrument to the distance through which the torpedo has travelled (dimension (313 plus 614).

It will be understood that this instrument will be kept in the plotting room of the war vessel, from which the torpedo is fired and that the necessary data for setting the instrument will be either known or determined.

The particular instrument, as shown, corresponds to a torpedo having certain definite characteristics, as for instance, its minimum turning radius and the distance between paravane and torpedo at the time of contact of paravane with the ship. Other data such as the length of the enemy ship, the speed of the enemy ship and the speed of the torpedo may be determined in each individual case, and the instrument set accordingly to determine the angle 0. After the 6 is mechanically determined by this instrument, the torpedo will be set before firing, to turn through this angle as disclosed in the above mentioned application. Thus a mechanical instrument is provided which mechanically to the speed of the gives the desired angle 0 and from data easily available. It determines this quantity quickly and accurately.

While certain novel features of the invention have been shown and described and are pointed out in the annexed claims, it will be understood that various omissions, substitutions and changes in the forms and details of the device illustrated and in its operation may be made by those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit of the invention.

What is claimed is:

1. A device for determining the directing angle of a self-propelled body towards its target, comprising a course member having a circular portion and a tangential portion, a slider operatively connected thereto, a longitudinal course member, a second slider operatively connected thereto means for setting said second slider at a distance corresponding to a length of the target, a variable speed mechanism for simultanenously actuating said sliders at speeds having a predetermined ratio and means for adjusting said course member to obtain 2. A geometrical instrument comprising a base plate, a torpedo course member corresponding to the course of a torpedo carrying a paravane, said member comprising a circular portion and a tangential portion, a torpedo traveler onsaid course member and corresponding'to the torpedo, a straight enemy course member corresponding to the course of a moving enemy ship and pivoted to said base plate at a first pivot point, a ship traveler on said enemy course member corresponding to the enemy ship, said torpedo course member being pivoted to said base plate at a second pivot point located at the center of said circular portion, devices for moving said travelers at speeds having the same ratio as the torpedo and ship, means for varying the length of said ship traveler, means for rotating said enemy course member about said first pivot point to correspond to the course of said ship, said base plate having a marking corresponding to the position of the torpedo as its paravane hits the ship, said first pivot point rep-resenting the stern of the ship as said paravane hits said ship, and means for turning said torpedo course member about said second pivot point as said travelers move at their ratio speeds to cause said travelers to meet.

3. A geometrical instrument comprising a base plate, a missile course member corresponding to the course of a missile, said member comprising a circular portion and a tangential portion, a missile traveler on said course member and corresponding to the missile, a straight target course member corresponding to the course of a moving target and pivoted to said base plate at a first pivot point, a target traveler on said target course directly the desired angle.'

member corresponding to the target, said missile course member being pivoted to said base plate at a second pivot point located at the center of said circular portion, devices for moving said travelers at speeds having the same ratio as the speeds of the missile and target, means for rotating said target course member about said first pivot point to correspond to the course of said target, and means for turning said missile course member about said second pivot point as said travelers move at their ratio speeds to cause said travelers to meet.

4. An instrument for mechanically predetermining the meeting point of two moving bodies comprising 'first and second course members corresponding respectively to the courses of said moving bodies, first and second travelers corresponding respectively 20 to said moving bodies and mounted on said course members, means for voluntarily moving said travelers along their respective course members at speeds corresponding to said bodies but independently of said bodies, and 25 means for voluntarily relatively shifting said course members to cause said travelers to meet as they move along their respective courses to obtain data for setting the relative courses of said bodies. 30 In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal.

ALBERT D. TRENOR. 

